Impact of Covid-19 on UK Tourism Industry

This essay evaluates the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on tourism industry of UK. It discusses the strict lockdown regulations and travel restrictions imposed by the government, decline in revenue streams, job cuts, and the future of the industry.

Essay

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Evaluation of the impact of covid-19 pandemic on UK tourism industry...................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Covid 19 pandemic has impacted whole world in a significant way. Due to this pandemic
situation, business organisations faced a hard time and incur huge losses. This project report is
prepared on the basis of essay which essentially evaluate the impact of covid-19 pandemic on
tourism industry of UK. Strict lockdown regulation as well as drastically increasing cases has a
huge impact on tourism industry of UK. As people are not allowed to come out of their homes
and visit a place due to global pandemic and frae of transmission of virus. Due to this global
pandemic, government officials of differential countries has implemented various protocols in
regards with travelling (Brouder, 2020). Government has posed a ban on entering into different
countries due to covid-19 pandemic.
Evaluation of the impact of covid-19 pandemic on UK tourism industry
Covid pandemic was a new term before 2019 for people all over the world. At first, in
2019 corona virus was detected in China and later on flourished in each and every country
(Dube, Nhamo and Chikodzi, 2021). Slowly, this name has become popular and its impact can
be seen all over the world with increase in cases of virus infected patients. Covid-19 pandemic is
caused by a virus called corona virus which attacks on respirator system of people. From the
time of its generation and impact, it has taken numerous variations which makes significant for
scientists as well as doctors to understand it. When it was break in 2019 and has impacted
Chinese population in a significant manner, investigations has been started regarding its
origination and treatment. Later, it has been assessed that this virus has been introduced in
relation to human population from a source which is connected through animals. It has also been
proved that in outbreak of this virus into human population, Wuhan City played an initial
amplification role. World Health Organisation is collaborating to varied experts and member
institutions in order to investigate about this virus as well as its variations. Due to this,
government of every country has announced lockdown and several protocols as well as
guidelines in order to curb the virus transmission for saving numerous lives. Guidelines that are
formulated by UK government were maintain social distancing, remain at home, avoid travelling
irrespective of necessities and many more. Since December 2020, covid-19 pandemic has
impacted and spread to almost 20 countries initiating from China.
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Travel and tourism industry is considered as most profitable sector for UK with
contribution of high rates in terms of gross value added. Covid-19 has impacted this sector in a
tremendous manner due to government strict restrictions which prevent tourism all over the
world for a long period. In UK, on an expected 7.8 million people choose mountains, woodlands
and rivers of North Wales every year. Tourism industry of UK have been provided employment
to 18000 people as well as contributes to £1.3bn in regards to local economy every year
(Tourism hotspots hit hard by Covid-19 jobs crisis. 2021). Even number of domestic tourists
have been fallen in a significant manner in London. They have suffered losses of losing their
revenue streams, domestic visitors and business travellers. Revenues which were bought by
international travellers have been fallen drastically due to covid-19 pandemic.
Due to sudden outbreak of covid-19 and its increasing impact on every nation has led
government to put varied protocols in relation to travelling. This practice has tremendous
influence on UK’s one of the most profitable sector which is tourism. Due to pandemic, owners
of tourist places and hospitality sector have to shut down tier business operations for a significant
time. Due to increase in rate of virus infected people, government has announced to not run an
establishment with 100% workforce. Owners of tourist places, hospitality organisations, travel
agencies and airlines have faced huge losses due to tremendous decline in their revenue streams.
In UK, 18.6% of people have lose their jobs working in travel and tourism industry. GDP
contribution of tourism sector in UK has decreased to 4.2% by 2020. (UK Travel and Tourism:
COVID Impact Report. 2021). Apart from strict government regulations regarding covid, people
are also afraid due to increased rate of virus transmissions all over the country. This situation has
also plays a significant role in declining of tourism industry at UK. Lack of tourists at UK led
tourism industry to face financial crisis which in turn causes many job cuts.
In 2020, UK tourism industry has been suffered a loss of £22bn due to corona pandemic
(Coronavirus: UK 'could lose £60m a day' as tourism slumps. 2020). This situation can land
millions of jobs related to tourism sector in jeopardy. Government strict regulation into leaving
in quarantine has also influence on people’s behaviour. It has been assessed that after removal of
some barriers of lockdown, tourist places can be filled by domestic tourists. Whereas, they are
expecting foreign travellers as it has huge impact on economic leveraging also. Even numerous
households in UK are dependent on their jobs related to tourism sector are also suffering
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drastically. This pandemic situation as an immense as well as long lasting influence on position
of London as a tourist and leisure hub.
Apart from tourism industry, related sectors with this like aviation, hospitality and travel
also get impacted because of global pandemic. It has been assessed that arrival of number of
monthly passengers to UK has been drastically fallen down by 98.3%. Accommodation and
travel agency has also saw sharpest decline in their business by 9.3% (Coronavirus and the
impact on the UK travel and tourism industry. 2021) Business operations in regards with travel
and tourism industry have been declined drastically due to increasing travelling restrictions
posed by government.
Even after the pandemic, travelling has become more difficult task as people have to follow
certain guidelines which are framed by UK government like maintenance of social distancing in
flights, have to enter at airport before time and show their corona test reports. Even passengers
have to fulfil passenger locator form as well as have to show vaccination certificates to
authorities (Khalid, Okafor and Burzynska, 2021). This has also declined tourist rates at UK as
people do not want to indulge in much formalities. Even in case of business travellers,
technological advancements also curb people to travel to and from UK as meetings can be done
effectively through video conferences. Although travellers who wants to explore places would
like to travel and visit places at UK.
However, travel industry has again get impacted because of second and third lockdown in
UK. In 2022, UK government has announced to end all the legislations regarding entry of
travellers from other countries to UK. It became the first well-developed economy that ends
travel regulations in relation to international travel. It has been assessed that this pandemic has
proved that rural areas of UK such as Gwynedd have a very little choice to make contributions in
economy rather than dependency on tourism sector (Nundy and Et. Al., 2021). Even after re-
opening of London Museums as well as galleries after several months regarding lockdown,
international travellers are no were to be seen. However, this number would increase with the
removal of corona protocols in other countries. It has been addressed by owner of one of the
tourist places of London that international visitors are increasing to 40% and they are following
social distancing in order to curb the virus transmission. UK government is all set to help the
museums which were hitted hard by covid-19 pandemic through varied schemes. Government
has announced that these schemes will aid owners of museums and galleries to support their
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employees. It is imperative to follow covid guidelines framed by government as there is still risk
in relation to new variant of virus and its impact can be huge. It is important to carry their
vaccination passports for travelling to UK or any other country as per guidelines of government
of that specific nation.
CONCLUSION
From the above essay it has been assessed that covid-19 has impacted tourism industry of
UK in a drastic manner which led them to suffer and has also taken many jobs. It has been
assessed that this pandemic has hit hard varied industries such as transportation, recreational,
tourism, accommodation and many more in a significant manner. It shows a huge impact on
GDP rates and economic level of countries. It has been recommended that tourism industry of
UK can take help of digital channels as well as social networking sites to attract international
visitors in order to balance their losses. Global pandemic has influenced many jobs in tourism
sector which hampers the spending patterns of people all over the world. Government regulations
have been removed regarding travelling which can influence domestic as well as international
travellers to determine tourist places at UK for visiting. It is imperative for government to
support the declining tourism industry of UK by introducing varied schemes.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals:
Brouder, P., 2020. Reset redux: Possible evolutionary pathways towards the transformation of
tourism in a COVID-19 world. Tourism Geographies. 22(3). pp.484-490.
Dube, K., Nhamo, G. and Chikodzi, D., 2021. COVID-19 pandemic and prospects for recovery
of the global aviation industry. Journal of Air Transport Management. 92. p.102022.
Khalid, U., Okafor, L. E. and Burzynska, K., 2021. Does the size of the tourism sector influence
the economic policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic?. Current Issues in
Tourism. 24(19). pp.2801-2820.
Nundy, S. and Et. Al., 2021. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socio-economic, energy-
environment and transport sector globally and sustainable development goal
(SDG). Journal of Cleaner Production. 312. p.127705.
Online:
UK Travel and Tourism: COVID Impact Report. 2021 [Online] Available through:
<https://eturbonews.com/2999308/uk-travel-and-tourism-covid-impact-report/>
Coronavirus: UK 'could lose £60m a day' as tourism slumps. 2020 [Online] Available through: <
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53921106>
Coronavirus and the impact on the UK travel and tourism industry. 2021 [Online] Available
through: <https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/tourismindustry/articles/
coronavirusandtheimpactontheuktravelandtourismindustry/2021-02-15>
Tourism hotspots hit hard by Covid-19 jobs crisis. 2021 [Online] Available through: <
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56127385>
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